Experience using closed incision negative pressure wound therapy in sternotomy patients

Area of Science:

• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Wound Healing
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Postoperative wound complications, including surgical site infections (SSIs), increase morbidity and healthcare costs.
• In cardiothoracic surgery, wound complications can be life-threatening.
• Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is used on closed incisions to reduce tension and prevent contamination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report initial experiences with closed incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT) on sternotomy incisions.
• To evaluate the efficacy of ciNPT in preventing wound complications in cardiothoracic surgery patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 10 patients who underwent sternotomy between January 2012 and March 2013.
• ciNPT was applied to clean, closed sternotomy incisions.
• ciNPT was used for an average of 6 days.

Main Results:

• Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), aortic valve replacement (AVR), or mediastinal mass removal were included.
• The average patient age was 71.5 years, with various comorbidities.
• All 10 patients experienced complete wound healing without complications.

Conclusions:

• ciNPT is a promising therapy for preventing SSIs and other wound complications after sternotomy.
• Consider ciNPT for patients at risk of developing postoperative wound complications.